Short Review:
Despite being made in China this exhibits true Milwaukee quality and care. It’s surprisingly cheap but doesn’t skimp on quality and craftsmanship. The drill can handle any job you throw at it and doesn’t hiccup at all.

Long Review:
In the 3/8 inch drill line by Milwaukee this new (introduced in late October 2009) addition to the team has the highest amperage motor (at 8 amps) and the fastest rotational speed as well (2,800 rpm). Because of this it would make sense that it would cost slightly more than the 7 and 5.5 amp drills in this class, but that’s not the case. In fact this drill is only 70% the cost of the previously least expensive drill in the lineup. Before purchasing this drill at a local hardware store I was uncertain as to why, it didn’t make sense to me, but upon opening the box and examining the drill the best reason I can give is that this model was made in China whereas the other Milwaukee drills are all made in the United States.

While at the store I compared this to the 0201-20, both of which I removed from the box to examine. The craftsmanship of both was basically identical, although the 0240-20 has a bit more rubber on the handle for grip. Aesthetically speaking the 0240-20 is a bit more “futuristically” stylized. This has nothing to do with function but, I feel like it does make the drill look quite snazzy. This drill doesn’t come with a side handle which I would suspect removes 20 dollars from the price tag as well. I also checked the trigger to see how smoothly it could be depressed, and I actually felt the 0240-20 was a bit more refined and smooth. The 3 plastic parts that compose the back of the drill are molded well and fit together without any gaps and fits snuggly against the metal gear case. Overall the drill is constructed beautifully.

Despite all the good things I can say about this drill I should note that there was a hitch when purchasing the drill. I bought it and brought it home before I plugged it in and used it, but when I did the motor ran smoothly and well and had an enormous amount of torque (the last drill I had was a Milwaukee from the 80s and was only 3.5 amps and 1,000 rpm). I thought all was good until I put a bit in the drill for the first time and noticed that the chuck was off-centered which caused the bit to wobble. Upon closer inspection the spindle shaft was also off kilter and it appears it was installed incorrectly or perhaps the hole drilled in the center so it could attach to the service armature (the part of the motor that spins) was not dead center. Because of this I am giving it four stars.

Overall this drill has everything you would need even for heavy use. This drill is made in China which might be a deal breaker for some, but remember it is still made with high quality machinery and assembled with care. The design is made with thought and made with that classic Milwaukee toughness in mind, so I would say that overall it is definitely worth buying.

On the Milwaukee website ([...]) you can type these numbers into the search to pull up the diagrams for the drill. At the time of this posting there is no link on their main page for these diagrams and some might find it useful.
Wiring Instructions: 58-01-0205
Service Parts List: 54-06-0240

I needed a new corded drill to replace my 19 year old Dewalt. I researched many drills and decided on the Milwaukee.

It’s a no frills, get the job done type drill. The 8 amp motor has enough torgue to power through anything, even concrete. The speed chuck is made of metal so it can handle some abuse. The metal gear case is a nice feature to add strength for when we drop the drill.

Last night I put the Milwaukee to the test. I am making 4 bookcase cabinets for the family. Part of this project includes drilling what seems like a million holes for the adjustable shelving. Well, almost a million. It’s more like 500 holes. The Milwaukee came through like a champ. The variable speed was slow enough to start the holes in the plastic jig, then speed up for finishing. The speed chuck kept the drill bit in line with no wobble.

The Milwaukee feels good in the hand and well balanced. I wasn’t sure about the double finger trigger system, but after the 100th hole I appreciated how responsive it was. My hand or fingers didn’t cramp from continued use.

Milwaukee says this new drill is part of their Tradesman line. It’s well built with plenty of power for any DIY project. This is my first Milwaukee tool and I am very happy.

Heavy Duty motor, variable speed I received it in about 1/2 the estimated time for shipping which was great at it was a replacement and I am sick of buying the National “Off Brands” only to have them fail. I used it for drilling concrete for Tapcon screws and it worked like a charm…. slightly warm motor area.